Roof Insurance Claims in Arkansas

Insurance restoration roofing is our specialty. Rumble Roofing has been walking Arkansas homeowners through storm claims since we opened in 2023, and most of the confusion we see comes from the same handful of questions. Who files the claim? What is the adjuster looking for? Why is the first check smaller than the estimate? What is a supplement? This page answers those questions plainly. It is not legal or insurance advice, and your policy controls, but it will help you know what to expect.

What We Do and What We Do Not Do

We do: inspect for free, photograph and document the damage, meet the adjuster at your home, walk the roof with them, review the approved scope with you, complete the work, and submit supplements with documentation when the scope missed something.

We do not: file the claim for you. That is between you and your insurance company. We also do not waive, absorb, or "cover" your deductible, and we do not write inflated invoices to hide it. The Arkansas Insurance Department specifically warns homeowners to reject contractors who offer to waive deductibles. It is insurance fraud, and it puts your claim and your coverage at risk.

The Claim Process, Step by Step

1. Free inspection. We look at every slope, the soft metals, gutters, vents and flashing, and photograph what we find. If the damage is wear and tear rather than storm damage, we tell you that, because wear and tear is not a covered loss.

2. You call your insurance company. The Arkansas Insurance Department advises contacting your insurer or agent as soon as possible after a storm. Have your policy number and the date of the storm handy. We can be on the call if that helps.

3. The adjuster visit. Your insurer sends an adjuster to inspect. We meet them at your house and walk the roof with them so the damage is recorded correctly the first time. This is the single most useful thing we do in the process.

4. The scope and the first check. If the claim is approved, you receive a scope of work and, in most cases, a first payment. That first payment is often less than the total estimate, and the section below explains why.

5. The work. We complete the approved scope. If we find items the adjuster missed, like decking, additional layers, code-required items or damage to another slope, we document it and submit a supplement to the insurer for review.

6. Final invoice and depreciation. When the job is done, we send the final invoice to you and your carrier so the remaining money on the claim can be released.

Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value

This is where most homeowners get confused, so here it is in plain terms.

Replacement cost value (RCV) coverage pays the cost to repair or replace the damaged roof without deducting for depreciation. Actual cash value (ACV) coverage pays the depreciated cost, meaning the replacement cost minus a deduction for the roof's age and condition. On an older roof, that deduction can be most of the claim. The NAIC gives the example of two families with $15,000 in roof damage and $1,000 deductibles: the family with RCV receives $14,000, and the family with ACV receives $4,000 after $10,000 in depreciation.

Many RCV policies pay in two parts. The first check is the actual cash value minus your deductible. The rest, the depreciation, is held back until the work is actually completed. Once you send in proof that the roof was replaced, the insurer releases the withheld amount. That held-back money is called recoverable depreciation. Policies often set a time limit for finishing the work and requesting it, so do not sit on an approved claim.

Check your declarations page or ask your agent which kind of coverage you have on the roof. Some carriers now apply depreciation schedules to older roofs, and it matters a great deal when a storm hits.

Your Deductible

Your deductible is your share of the claim, and you pay it to the contractor as part of the job. Some Arkansas policies now carry a separate wind and hail deductible that is different from the deductible on the rest of the policy. Know your number before you file.

Anyone who tells you they can make the deductible disappear is asking you to commit fraud with them. We will not do it, and you should not let anyone else do it either.

Supplements

A supplement is a request to the insurer to add items to the approved scope that were missed or that came up during the work. Common examples are rotten decking under the shingles, an extra layer of old roofing that has to be torn off, and items required by current code. We document each item with photos and measurements and send it in. The insurer reviews it and approves, denies, or asks questions. It is a normal part of restoration work, not a trick.

If Your Claim Is Denied or Underpaid

You can ask your insurer for a re-inspection, and we will meet the second adjuster too. If you believe your carrier is not handling the claim fairly, the Arkansas Insurance Department's Consumer Services Division takes complaints and questions at 800-852-5494.

For the bigger question of whether your policy covers a roof at all, read does homeowners insurance cover roof replacement in Arkansas. For what storm damage looks like, see our storm and hail damage page and our guide to hail damage on a roof. When the claim is approved, the work itself is described on our roof replacement page.

Arkansas Roof Insurance Claim FAQ

Should I get an inspection before I call my insurance company?
We think so. A free inspection tells you whether there is real storm damage before you open a claim. If there is not, you have saved yourself a claim on your record.

Can I choose my own roofer, or do I have to use the insurer's?
You choose. Your insurer may suggest contractors, but the choice is yours.

What if the insurance estimate is lower than yours?
We compare the two line by line. Differences are usually missed items, and we handle those with a supplement.

Do I get to keep the leftover money if the job costs less?
That depends on your policy and on whether you have RCV or ACV coverage. Recoverable depreciation in particular is only paid after the work is done and documented. Ask your agent.

How long do I have to file a claim in Arkansas?
Your policy sets the deadline, and the Arkansas Insurance Department advises contacting your insurer as soon as possible. Do not wait.